The Celebration of The Passover

Exodus 12:15–24
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In celebration of the Passover meal they were to eat bread made without leaven (v. 15). This is flat bread made with no yeast. In fact if you ate anything made with yeast during this festival, you would be excommunicated from Israel. The only work they were allowed to do during this time of special religious services was that of preparing food (v. 16). To celebrate this festival was a way of remembering the day that God  brought the families and tribes out of Egypt (v. 17). They were to begin this celebration on the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month and continue until the evening of the twenty-first day (v. 18). During these seven days no yeast was to be allowed in anyone’s home (v. 19). They were told to stay away from yeast no matter where they lived (v. 20).

Moses called the leaders of Israel together and each family was instructed to pick out a sheep and kill it (v. 21). They were instructed to make a brush from the branches of a hyssop tree and dip the brush in the bowl that had the blood of the animal in it. Then they were told to brush blood above the door and on the posts at each side. After this everyone was to stay inside (v. 22). During the night the Lord went through the country of Egypt and killed the first-born son of every Egyptian family (v. 23). The angel that brings death would see the blood on the door posts of each Israelite family and not kill the first-born sons. Future generations were to observe this celebration each year (vv. 24-25).

Application

Feelings and good works had nothing to do with deliverance from the death angel but only the application of the blood on the door posts. My assurance of salvation doesn’t depend on my religious experiences, works of mercy or cultivation of character but only in me personally trusting in His shed blood.